Raymond Trecter Watt died Sunday February 10, 2019 in St Louis, Missouri. He was 82 years old. His daughter Laura was by his side as she had constantly been during his last illness. Father Steve Lawler performed the Last Rites for him.

“Pete” as he was known since childhood was born in St. Louis on May 18, 1936 to Raymond Trechter Watt and Kathryn Leone Zander. He graduated grade school in University City, Missouri, and junior and senior high school in Normandy, Missouri. Upon graduation from high school in 1954, he attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated with a BA in Political Science in June 1958. In recognition of his academic achievements at the university he was awarded a Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship to further his education at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Pete began his 31year career with IBM in 1961 in San Francisco, California as a Systems Engineer. After a year he was moved to the Oakland, California Office of IBM and was on a two-person sales team selling the large IBM Main Frame computers. His partner ran the numbers and Pete provided the explanations. It was a very successful team. One of their most successful accounts was the Radiation Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1966 he was promoted to the Olympia, Washington IBM office as manager for the systems engineers and the sales team. He was then promoted to Branch Manager of the Springfield, Illinois. In1973 he was transferred to IBM corporate headquarter in White Plains, New York where he served on a team that negotiated sales and service agreements with General Electric Corporation. In 1986 he was asked to join the Quarter Century Club at IBM which is a prestigious IBM award granted to a select few, who work for the company 25 years or more. After a long and successful career with IBM, he chose to take early retirement in 1992.

On January 18, 1959 Pete married Nancy L. Johnston in Ferguson, Missouri. They moved to San Francisco, California where their daughter Laura DeVore Watt and son Andrew Johnston Watt were born.

Pete remarried in 1971 to Marilyn Brower Nelson of Olympia, WA. and became stepfather to her two sons, Mark L. Nelson and Warren G. (Greg) Nelson. After transferring to White Plains, NY in 1973, the Watts built a home in Wilton, CT where they lived for 27 years until Pete’s retirement. In 2000, they relocated to Escondido, CA north of San Diego, California.

While in San Diego, the Watts joined St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, AKA St. Bart’s in nearby Poway, where they were both confirmed in 2001. The couple traveled extensively, visiting six continents. They also enjoyed gourmet cooking and fine dining, good music and of course the card game Bridge.

Pete was a very serious contract bridge player and took great pleasure in competing in regional tournaments. He actually developed his own Bridge Bidding System, with dreams of publishing it someday. His other varied interests included amateur photography, reading the New York Times and the Economist, participating in the San Bernadino Audio Club, collecting music CDS and fine wine. In October 2018, Pete returned to his hometown of St. Louis to be closer to his children.

He is survived by his daughter Laura DeVore Watt of Normandy, MO, and his son Andrew Johnston Watt (Diane Pena) of Chicago, Illinois; stepsons Mark L. Nelson (Diann) of East Alton, Illinois and Greg Nelson (Liz) of West Haven, CT; granddaughter Hailey Banks Watt of Chicago, IL and step grandson Eric L. Nelson of East Alton, IL. He was preceded in death by his wife of 33 years, Marilyn Brower Nelson Watt who died in March 2004. He is also survived by special friend, Bunny Schmidt of San Diego.

On Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, a Memorial Church Service will be held at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church at 16275 Pomerado Rd., Poway, CA 92064. Memorial Service begins at 3:00 p.m., followed by a reception from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Burial ceremony on Saturday, February 23 at Mills and Mills Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5725 Littlerock Road SW., Tumwater, WA 98512. Graveside Service at 10:00 a.m., followed by a reception 10:30 to Noon.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Ferguson, MO, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church 22 Clay Road, Ferguson, MO 63135 on Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m. followed by a reception at 3:00 p.m.

Donations in the memory of Raymond T. “Pete” Watt could be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.